Professor Toyin Ashiru, Pro-Chancellor & Chairman, Governing Council, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Mourns Revered Nigerian Traditional Ruler, Awujale Of Ijebuland, Oba Kayode Adetona

<h4>Professor Toyin Ashiru<&sol;h4>&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng&sol;">OpenLife Nigeria<&sol;a><&sol;strong> reports that one of Nigeria’s outstanding Engineering Professors and Pro-Chancellor &amp&semi; Chairman&comma; Governing Council of Olabisi Onabanjo University&comma; Ago-Iwoye&comma; Ogun State&comma; has expressed sadness over the death of His Royal Majesty&comma; Oba &lpar;Dr&period;&rpar; Sikiru Kayode Adetona&comma; the Awujale of Ijebuland&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Professor Ashiru&comma; who is the Moyegeso of Ijebuland&comma; describes the death of the frontline traditional ruler as &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;The end of an extraordinary era&comma;” in Nigeria’s traditional institution&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>In a statement he personally signed&comma; titled&colon; <em><strong>Statement By The Pro-Chancellor &amp&semi; Chairman Of Governing Council&comma; Olabisi Onabanjo University&comma; On The Passing Of His Royal Majesty Oba &lpar;Dr&period;&rpar; Sikiru Kayode Adetona&comma; The Awujale Of Ijebuland&comma;<&sol;strong><&sol;em> Professor Ashiru noted that the late Kabiyesi extended humogous suppots to the development of the institution&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>He pointed out&comma; among other things&comma; how the late Awujale &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;<em><strong>Endowed and built the Oba &lpar;Dr&period;&rpar; Sikiru Kayode Adetona School of Governance Studies — now a national centre of excellence formally integrated into Nigeria’s policy and strategic training ecosystem&period;”<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Professor Ashiru’s statement is reproduced below unedited<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>It is with a deeply sorrowful heart that we&comma; the Governing Council&comma; Senate&comma; staff&comma; students&comma; and the entire Olabisi Onabanjo University community&comma; mourn the transition of our esteemed Royal Father&comma; benefactor&comma; and patriarch&comma; His Royal Majesty&comma; Oba &lpar;Dr&period;&rpar; Sikiru Kayode Adetona&comma; CFR&comma; GCON&comma; JP&comma; the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland&comma; who joined his ancestors on Saturday&comma; July 13&comma; 2025 at the glorious age of 91&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Kabiyesi’s passing marks the end of an extraordinary era&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Ascending the throne at only 26 in 1960&comma; His Majesty’s reign of over six and a half decades was one of vision&comma; courage&comma; and unmatched dedication&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>His profound impact on Ijebuland&comma; Ogun State&comma; and indeed Nigeria&comma; is etched in the annals of history&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>For us at Olabisi Onabanjo University&comma; Kabiyesi was far more than a Royal Father&semi; he was the greatest individual benefactor our University has ever known&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Through his unmatched philanthropy and foresight&comma; he endowed and built the Oba &lpar;Dr&period;&rpar; Sikiru Kayode Adetona School of Governance Studies — now a national centre of excellence formally integrated into Nigeria’s policy and strategic training ecosystem&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>He gave us lecture halls&comma; residences&comma; the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge&comma; and transformed our roads — literally paving the way for academic excellence&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>But Kabiyesi’s legacy is not measured only in bricks and mortar&period; It is anchored on values of integrity&comma; truth&comma; and selfless service&period; His passion for using <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;punchng&period;com&sol;">education<&sol;a> as a tool to nurture ethical&comma; accountable leadership will continue to illuminate the path for generations to come&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>We will deeply miss his fatherly counsel&comma; his moral compass&comma; and the uncommon energy he brought even at 91 — an age at which many retreat&comma; but Kabiyesi still advanced ideas&comma; hosted lectures on governance and corruption&comma; and challenged us all to do better&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>On behalf of the entire Olabisi Onabanjo University family&comma; we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family&comma; the Awujale-in-Council&comma; the good people of Ijebuland&comma; Ogun State&comma; and indeed the nation at large&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>May the Almighty grant our beloved Kabiyesi eternal rest&comma; and may his remarkable legacy continue to inspire us to build a more just&comma; prosperous&comma; and ethical society&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Adieu&comma; our Royal Father&comma; benefactor&comma; and conscience of leadership&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em>Professor Oluwatoyin Ashiru&comma; OON&comma; FNSE&comma; FAEng &lpar;Otunba Moyegeso of Ijebuland&rpar;<&sol;em><br &sol;>&NewLine;<i>Pro-Chancellor &amp&semi; Chairman&comma; Governing Council&comma; <&sol;i>Olabisi Onabanjo University&comma; Ago-Iwoye&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;